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Motion Calling for Review of Current Teacher Training Proposals Approved
A motion calling on the house to request that the General Synod of Board of Education undertake a review of the current teacher training proposals as outlined in the document issued on behalf of the Board of Governors of CICE dated 13th November 2012 which appears to have a potentially detrimental effect on the life of school communities under the patronage of the Church of Ireland and other Protestant Churches has been passed by Synod.
Proposing the motion Richard Codd said that under the new proposals Minister Quinn did not envisage the retention of Rathmines campus. But Mr Codd said he did not specifically rule it out. However, he said the board of governors of CICE put up little opposition and agreed to move to Drumcondra.
He said CICE had had a 90 year association with TCD which meant the students got the experience of a university environment with one of the oldest and most renowned universities.
He asked how the core principles of ethos, identity and traditions were to be maintained, sustained and carried forward under the current proposal. He suggested TCD was more likely to maintain the current identity because of its 90 year support for CICE. He said it was incumbent on the board of education to renegotiate to avoid losing the link with TCD. He added that CICE was to provided for education in denominational schools and so must be maintained.
Cecil Roundwood (Cashel and Ossory) said his great fear was the dissolution of the ethos of Church of Ireland schools. Canon Paul Willoughby wondered if the Church of Ireland was being very foolish.
The Bishop of Tuam informed Synod that the Higher Education Authority wrote to the board of CICE saying it would withhold funding as of last November if it did not pursue one of the options given.
In response, Mr Codd said that under the Good Friday Agreement the State was obliged to respect the different traditions on the island of Ireland.
Archbishop Clarke reminded Synod that the board of governors of CICE had no accountability to the board of education.
The motion was passed.